The 21st century and beyond is an era of creativity and inventions and the daily activities need to embrace these new inventions, otherwise we will be left lagging behind. Modern technology has revolutionized everything and it requires that we keep in phase with it. The world today is destining to globalization and technology is the major tool used to achieve this objective. For us to interact with the outside world we need technology right at our hands. The kind of interaction that exists is one with mutual gains to both parties, which is described by Simmel as patterned interaction. Where it has various elements and all are directed towards achieving quality relationship. The elements include; playing games, keeping secrets, strangers and forming relationships but further narrowed it down to individual personality as the base for this mutual understanding that can be precisely brought up by collective patterns such as the economy (Murphy, 2010).
We cannot be specific on the kind of interaction that we have with one another. The world is made of different cultures with different traditions, norms, and practises. This diversity brings about the different types of interaction and it’s only upon us to create an order of interaction from the large web pattern. In our day-to-day activities we seek different information and the way we resolve issues varies greatly hence developing a problematic situation but always flexible to change. This depend on the nature of individuals communicating together, but in some cases one only need to read something in printed media or through internet and that is also another form of interaction. The different fields expose us to challenges that we cannot specifically define how we interact. With the digital world, everything is done by the click of the button, no face-to-face interaction and response depends on the nature of urgency (Weert & Munro, 2003).
The digital relationship has both advantages and disadvantages. The good thing about the digital interaction is that passing information across is always fast and we get the feedback immediately. The world today is driven by information and it enables us to make informed decisions. The internet has simplified so many things around us and we no longer need to travel far distance to get our things done, we just order someone and by the click of the button, you get whatever you wanted. Employers have their website where they post their vacancies and one can apply online, education also on the other hand have embrace the digital technology and students now can learn and get their degrees through the internet. Another advantage is that through interaction we are hooked up by friends who can help us in times of calamities, for example if we post for assistance we will never miss someone or a Non Governmental Organization who will come to our rescue (Larry, 2007).
The other importance of the digital interaction is that the media uses it to pass news and adverts on various issues of our interest. Those who are interested in fashion get the latest outfits just by visiting the site on fashions a chose among the collections given. This saves us time and resources of moving around since we find almost everything on the internet. Generally, the digital relationship reduces the world to a small village where we interact openly to anyone across the board with no fear of social injustices (Bohlen, 2004).
The disadvantage of this form of relationship is that there is too much freedom and controlling people is a problem. Since there is, no regulation people have misused the internet by posting various forms of immorality. Photographic images are so rampant that you can never miss it when you open the internet. This reduces the benefits of the technology and referred unethical by some individuals. Some people take too much time talking to strangers, which at long run may harm them by taking their photos, manipulate, and post them in you tubes as phonographic videos (Peng, 2001).
Too much use of the internet leads to addiction and can give us misleading information. There are experts in this field producing anything they think of, some even post various theories on why relationships don’t succeed, some look so real that if we are not careful we can be convinced otherwise. Others conceal their identities and present themselves as perfect individuals but in reality, they are imposters posing a lot of danger to our authentic relationships. The world is moving so fast at an alarming rate and soon or later we will be only meeting our friends through the internet, this is not good since for you to determine the dependability of a person you have to meet face to face hence endangering our mutual existence (Murphy, 2010).
The introduction of new technology implies that everything has to be done according to the rules. Digital world is bringing negative impact on face to face encounters since we don’t need to meet someone in any conversation what you only need is the communicating tools like mobile phone which is the most available and information is passed with ease while feedback are also immediate. They have also introduced the other service of transferring money so physical contact will be minimal. This is not good for the social development since parents might not be with their children long enough to teach them on the moral standards of the family. The society will also be affected since the educated individuals will relocate to the urban centre leaving the old and illiterate in the rural hence causing an imbalance of social setup (Murphy, 2010).
In the digital world almost every person owns a gadget of communication; mobile phones, computers, and other digital receivers. Passing information is very easy and you are sure that it will reach many people within a very short time. The advanced telecommunication industry has made it possible and we can reach our friends, family members or work mates from wherever they are easily. The interaction has taken another format which requires us to be brief and precise in our interaction, no much descriptions and explanation, texting for example requires only a few sentences you not need to give every detail for the receiver is just assumed to understand your mind and respond immediately. This is further explained by the many sites being visited by the teenagers and other internet funs. Posting anything for example in the site known as ‘my space’ will automatically be read by so many people and suggestions, commends and criticisms will be received almost immediately. This shows how technology has changed and what one can get through the social network interaction (Larry, 2007).
The new forms of communication has ruined the natural format and made us act like robots that follow orders and instructions. This is because if you look keenly on how people interact, you will be mesmerized since there is no self expression, but too much gestures and gaps that the recipient is suppose to fill by him/herself. Fashion styles are also the other modes of communication where individuals identifies themselves to belong to a particular group, and if you meet their standards and status then you are allowed to be part of the group otherwise you cannot even say hi to them, and for sure that is how robots works i.e. unless instructed to do something it cannot work on its’ own. There are no guidelines and the information can only be understood by the recipient since other styles have emerged where symbols or shorten words are mainly used (Murphy, 2010).
References:
Peng, C. (2001). Design through digital interaction: computing communications and interaction with the modern world. Britain: intellect books ltd.
Bohlen, E. (2004). Global economy and digital society. New York: Emerald group publishers
Weert, T. and Munro, R. (2003). Informatics and the digital society: social, ethical, and cognitive issues. London: Kluwer academic publishers.
Larry, K. (2007). Social Networking: technology of digital interaction. Texas: Global intelligence press.
